About Steve
Steve was born in 1949 into a family with roots in both art and the sea. In 1968, after a year working as a “machinist apprentice” in an East Boston shipyard, Steve attended the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Graduating in 1971 with a Merchant Marine Engineer’s license Steve sailed five years aboard freighters with American Export Lines and oil tankers with Standard Oil Co. of California. These voyages took him to ports around the Mediterranean, India, Africa, the American west coast and the South Pacific. Steve made three voyages from Brooklyn, NY to India via the Cape of Good Hope when, in the 1970’s, the Suez Canal was closed to transit shipping.
Steve began building model ships in 1978 while living in Spain renewing his love of ships and the sea. Since then he has won 3 gold medals in model ship competitions in the Boston area and in Spain. In 1992 he began painting in watercolor and other mediums.
Many of the maritime themed watercolors are a result of research on specific ship and port histories and ship construction. Steve uses a collection of reference books, ship construction plans, personal reference photos and his own models to orchestrate his paintings. Once the subject is drafted, Steve applies washes in a painterly yet strategic and detail oriented approach. Every August, Steve and his wife, Nella, also an artist, travel to southern Italy to visit Nella’s relatives. Steve finds time to paint plein air in Italy, a welcome change from his normal studio based work.
“My art has been influenced by my experiences at sea, and the ports I’ve visited. Model shipbuilding has influenced my eye for form while literature of the sea has influenced my taste for individuality. I love strong colors and strive to capture a sense of emotion, understated activity and contrasting light in my work.”
Steve’s Art Has Been Exhibited At:
• Museum of America and the Sea, Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT.
• Maine Maritime Museum, Bath, ME.
• Ventura County Maritime Museum, Oxnard, CA.
• Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, OR.
• Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI.
• Biggs Museum of American Art, Dover, DE.
• Towle Hill Studio, Corinth, VT. (solo exhibition)
• Kenosha Public Museum, Kenosha, WI.
• Springfield Museum of Art, Springfield, MO.
• Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Winona, MN.
• Herreshoff Marine Museum, Bristol, RI.
• Newburyport Art Association, Newburyport, MA. (joint exhibition)
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NE Regional Headquarters), Gloucester, MA.
• Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD.
• Buffalo and Lake Erie Naval Museum Park, Buffalo, N.Y.
• South Shore Arts Center, Cohasset, MA.
• Cotuit Center for the Arts, Cotuit, MA.
• Cape Cod Maritime Museum, Hyannis, MA.
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay, MA.
• New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford, MA.
• Arts Center, Old Forge, N.Y.
• New England Watercolor Society Member Exhibitions, Emmanuel Church, Boston, MA.
• Gallery at Firehouse Square New London, CT.
• Churchill Gallery, Newburyport, MA.
Steve is a Signature Member of the American Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) and the New England Watercolor Society (NEWS). Steve is also an Artist Member of the Rockport Art Association, Rockport, MA. the Northshore Arts Association, Gloucester, MA. and the Coast Guard Art Program (COGAP). Steve is a Master Model Shipwright member of the USS Constitution Model Shipwright Guild, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA.
National and International Exhibitions:
- 145th Annual International Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society, 2012, Salmagundi Club, NYC
- 15th National Exhibition of the American Society of Marine Artists, 8 venues around the USA, 2011 to 2013
- Transparent Watercolor Society of America National Exhibition 2010, Kenosha, WI.
- Watercolor U.S.A. 2010, Springfield Museum of Art, Springfield, MO.
- 29th Annual Adirondack National Exhibition of American Watercolors 2010, Old Forge, N.Y.
- 29th Annual International Maritime Art Exhibition, 2008 Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT.
- American Society of Marine Artists Regional Exhibitions 2008, 2009 and 2010
- 17th,18th and 19th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition 2010, 2011 and 2012 Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, OR.
Awards:
2012
- “Virginia Avery Award”, New England Watercolor Society’s Member’s Exhibition, Emmanuel Church, Boston, Ma.
- “Mariboe-Swift Memorial Award”, Rockport Art Association First Summer Exhibition, Rockport, Ma.
- “2nd Place Award”, Chabot Gallery
2011
- “Jean Collins Award for Excellence in Watercolor” North Shore Arts Association, Gloucester, MA.
- “Director’s Award” 18th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition, Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, OR.
- “Popular Vote Award” North Shore Arts Association, Gloucester, MA.
- “Windsor Newton Purchase Award for Excellence in Watercolor” North Shore Arts Association, Gloucester, MA.
- “Edythe S. Ghen Memorial Award for Excellence in Watercolor” North Shore Arts Association, Gloucester, MA.
- “Honorable Mention” Annual Spring Members Exhibition, New England Watercolor Society, Boston, MA.
2010
- “Lehmann Memorial Award” Transparent Watercolor Society, Kenosha Public Museum, Kenosha, WI.
- “Genevera Underwood Award for Excellence in Watercolor” Rockport Art Association, Rockport, MA.
- “Silver Medal” USS Constituion Model Shipwright Guild’s Annual Model Ship Exhibition 2010, Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA.
- “Popular Vote Award” North Shore Arts Association, Gloucester, MA.
2008
- “Museum Purchase Award” 29th Annual International Maritime Art Exhibition, Museum of America and the Sea, Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT.
- “Painters Award” Concord Art Association, Concord, MA.
- “Gold Medal” USS Constitution Model Shipwright Guild Annual Model Ship Exhibition, Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA.
- “Honorable Mention” International Waters Exhibit of the International Society of Marine Painters, Ventura County Maritime Museum, Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, CA.
Steve’s art is part of many private and corporate collections throughout the United States and Italy.